A Fresh Breeze for Libraries
At its fourth meeting on 15 May 2025, the Student Parliament discussed in detail how the university libraries could be revamped.
Positioning in the BayStuRa
Numerous positions were reported from the Bavarian State Student Council (BayStuRa). The BayStuRa represents students at state level. To this end, representatives from Bavarian universities and colleges meet on a monthly basis. One of the topics discussed at the last meeting was the rejection of state funding for the AfD-affiliated Desiderius Erasmus Foundation. They also called for a restructuring programme for universities and regulations on the funding of further psychotherapy training.
What the libraries are still missing
The main point of the evening was a motion by the Christian Democratic Students’ Association (RCDS) entitled ‘University Library Upgrade’. It contains numerous demands, including more power sockets, 24/7 opening where possible and the abolition of compulsory lockers when visiting the library.
Parts of the proposal – such as 24/7 access with a chip card – are already being implemented. Others have been partially realised, such as the website to display free seats or the wooden stands that turn normal tables into high tables.
As there were many requests for changes from the plenary session, the vote on the motion was ultimately postponed until the next meeting. Further ideas on the topic can therefore be submitted until the next meeting (via social media or by email to stupa.stuve@uni-bamberg.de).
Taking matters into your own hands
If you would like to work on a topic yourself, you will soon have another opportunity: the numerous committees in which students have the right to vote will be filled again at the constituent meeting of the Student Parliament. Interested parties can contact the student representatives in advance (via social media or by email to stupa.stuve@uni-bamberg.de).
There you will receive all information about the tasks and opportunities. Alternatively, you can also come directly to the constituent meeting. This is when the new Student Parliament meets for the first time. This will take place on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, at 10.00 am (U7/01.05). It is not necessary to be a member of the Student Parliament, for example to be active on the advisory board of the library or one of our departments.
To ensure that the work of the next Student Parliament runs smoothly, it was decided in the last motion of the evening to set up a commission of enquiry. Two people were tasked with identifying current obstacles and hurdles and making suggestions for improvement. The aim is to distribute work more fairly among the members of parliament and avoid conflicts.
Transparency note: The author of this article is also the applicant.
